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[Separate No. 163] 



A Semi-Historical Account of the War of the 
Winnebago and Foxes 

Bv Paul Radin 



[From the Proceedings of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin tor 
1914, pages 192-207] 



Madison 

Published bv the Society 

1915 



Wisconsin Historical Society 



A Semi-Historical Account of the War 
of the Winnebap-o and the Foxes^ 



By Paul Radln 

The following account rofv-rs unquestionably to the Fox and 
Winnebago war of 1730. An excellent and detailed historical 
account of the same events is given in the Wisconsin Historical 
Collections.- A careful comparijK>n of ]Marin's letter with the 
Winnebago text given here v.-ill sliow h.ow clearly the Winnebago 
have, on the whole, remembered the incidents of this war. The 
account will, at the same time, serve as an excellent example 
of how, in the course of decades, historical narratives are sub- 
jected to strong literar}' remodeling." 

Text of Legend 

Told by Jaspeu Blowsnakf., June, 1908 

Hotcu'Tygtra tceg uaTjkcik'ina'negi, iia?7kci'gra wap'a'konok 
uaTjkcik'i'iJpjf- Hana'tciTjxdjj hi|ta'ginq,tc hira'n4ga w^axopi'ni 
perez hirege'. Hotcu'ijgera e'cAn4 xete'je, esge hotcuTyk higarreje. 

Uar/kci'g wak'i'jura narjk'a'wares'a^je giji Wace'rekc a'nq-gere 

' Table of sounds: All vowels have their continental value. A macron 
indicates length of vowels, and the Greek characters indicate short open 
vowels. The circumflex indicates long open vowels; i indicates nasalization; 
and »* that the vowel is excessively short; ' indicates a glottal catch and ' aspir- 
ation. 

The consonants have their English values with the following exceptions: 
n w a linguo-aj)ical n; tc equals ch in church; c equals sh in shin; j equals 
French j; dj equals j in judge; x equals ch in German Tuch and g is its sonant. 

2 XVII, SS- KM). 

'The author has under preparation a study of the literary aspects of the 
narrative, entitled "Literary Aspects of North American Mythology." 

[192] 



Fox and Winnebago War 

hagilrc'j.'VnA cdja k'irije' Hoti'u'7j;^tdju, j'-djti hi'rt'k'djjno^g«, 
''Ilik'i'niibra haiiik'a'rahas hak'irl'ii.^ e'je {i;Iji." 

Hotcu77g€n?'g€re te agii'k'inok tcije tcisl'ji, Hotcu'Tjgen^k'a 
\Vao(^'r('kera hijaT/k'T'ra k'j'ncje rolri'ri7;)k'rra hirck'dj* ai'rcje. 
Tanl'hura huT;!2;«n.?k'a hik'I'ruk'dj.^kt wanrncje tauihun.'^'k'a. 
Wajisge'xdjina hija 'u-inegi tani'hura hujjgra' hik'ira'k':IJD-.,X£ 
wanrno?;a, jesge liiros'a'je. Rohl'ra hijarjk'i'ra k't'lif^gf, nolia'- 
Tjxdji hotcu'r/gera Wacerek'e'rcdja hiiiu'k kjn?giro'J€, hicge 
Wacerek'e'ra Hotcu'ijgivvi kon3gira'n4ga wik'rruponai'neje. 

Hasarej.v'n.v iiaT7k\va'\voc€ xete'xdji, Hotcu'Tj'.iera lianl'iKTa 
Wacc'reke wa'u'ineje ma7;7o'jugi maT/Yen/k'a l:i'.!;ikcakoai'n'je 
giji. Tcap'o'sgaga hitoa'wiiiA wejc, "Djagu"ii liaryke' warora'- 
gi^iuT^je?" Tcap'o'sgaga hidjowara'n.vga Wace'rt'k'o'njvk'a w-I- 
warogiTT'je woje, "Hotcintci'njgwira witcfisa'keii.^k'a hamVtc 
nia'ciniwrn4. Rotcu'r?giji raitca'wigi, c'urjk'dja'v/in.v," wige'gi. 
"Ho," al'rej6. 

In the early days of their existence, the Winnebago were a 
successful people. They all fasted and were blessed by the 
spirits. It is for that reason that they were powerful and were 
called Hotcu'rygfra." 

At one time a Fox Indian, whose nation was about to be 
destroyed (by its enemies), came to these much feared Winne- 
bago and said, "Brothers, I have come to you for aid." 

The Winnebago lived on one side of the lake^ and the Fox 
on the other and (because of the appeal) the former made friends 
with the latter, it is said, and the chiefs presented the pipe to one 
another. When chiefs exchange pipes with one another a very 
sacred bond is established. Thus many Winnebago and Foxes 
became friends, and Winnebago men married Fox women, and 
Fox men married Winnebago women. 

There was once a very famous warrior among the Winnebago, 
whose crops were molested by the Foxes. Tcap'o'sgaga's' 
wife thereupon said to him, "Why don't you take them (the 
marauders) to task?" Then Tcap'o'sgaga went to the Foxe3 



* There are two possible interpretations of this name, one being 'Gr^at. 
Fish-people", and the other "Great Voice-people". The fonner is in all 
probabilitj^ the correct meaning. 

^ Probably at the junction of Fox River with Lake Winnebago. 

* This name means '"Whit^ Brea.st". 

13 [193] 



Wisconsin Historical Society 

and said, "Boys all the water-melons are yours when they are 
ripe, if you desire to eat them." "All right," they answered, 

Hfihe' nubo'luigadja hainine'gi Tcap'o'sgaga hitcij,'winA haini'- 
xdjinjk' hik'i-a'n^ga muriy era,' gicdja'higadj^. Te jige' 'u-ineje 
hak'iljak'irii'n.^ga. ">\'ajynoko'nA! Tcap'o'sgara maTjTenj'gera 
xttc'nigera waikca'kcapire^n^. Warug:i7i'pi naniga'djq,." Tcap'- 
o'sgaga hidjowaira'n.-^ga warogi'Tije. 

Halie tani'h.^nA jige' niRriyeny'k'a. hitoke'njk'djega haini'xdjinjk 
gicdja'hijf gadj^. (IJi'djuT/ga tcowe anJi'ntc wai-e'-ek hira'n^je. 
"Tcap'o'sgara maT?7i'nigtra mai'sjntc hi'naTjkt. R07I' nici'ra, 
Djagu"ii nigi'-aTjke roraTinira'djege, wa'i{ mar/Yinjgtra mahudja'- 
xdji hire'n.^." Tcap'o'sgaga n^ji-a'n^ga weje, "Hahi warua'- 
piTik'djc^n.^." Hidjo'wara'n^ga wageje' Wace'reke edja 'u'- 
na77k'i, "Djagu ma7;7i'jji jegijnaTyk'i'wirf hihe'ra. E'tcq,mahudja'- 
xdji, rawi. H;jh;V, hyhe'gi tcako' jige 'iiwi-^^'dje, uav/ga'nige 
wajti'nijji'ya'rega ha'ijconu'n^. Tcako' jige 'ijwi-jv'dje," wige'je, 
gijj- 

On the morning after the second night Tcap'o'sgaga's wife 
woke up very early and went out to inspect the crops. Again 
they had been disturbed, so she immediately went back ex- 
claiming, " How terrible I The largest and best of Tcap'o'sgaga's 
crops have been damaged. Indeed, you (Tcap'o'sgaga) should 
have forbidden them." Then Tcap'o'sgaga went over and 
forbade them. 

Early in the morning after the third night the old woman 
again woke up and went to inspect the crops. Again they had 
damaged almost everything. "The nicest of Tcap'o'sgaga's 
crops they have destroyed. He should have forbidden it. Why 
indeed did you not forbid it? They have utterly destroyed 
your crops." Then Tcap'o'sgaga got up and said, "I will go 
and forbid them." So he went over to the Foxes and said, 
"Leave my crops alone, I told you. Instead of that you have 
(hstroycd them. If again tonight you dare do this, as I'm a 
man who thinks (of revenge) beware. Dare do it again (and 
take the consequences)," he said. 

Wace'rck'cn.pk'a Wacerek'e'wowuTjk wa'u'naTjk'fji wai'reje. 
"K'ara, higij'icAn.^ iiaTykci'k irana'T^k'ik'j hanii'ntc uaT/kci'gi^ 
'OjtdjiiVigadjji," ai'reje. 

One of the wicked ones among the Foxes who were doing this 

[194] 



Fox and Winnebago War 

>aid, "O pshaw! He acts as though }ic were the only man (i. o. 
iircat warrior) in creation." 

Iluinjsl'ji Tcap'o'sgaga c'xdji hainj'xdjinik k'ik'a'wa'urrn.^Ka 
iiaT77€ra' gicdja'hij^adji}, jc'djur/pi majsjtci hircjf. Dja'n.^na 
lidji'nitak'i ninhudja'xdji hira'n.'^fzia liura'cf^t hirasa' wiriicfirai'- 
■eje. Tcap'o'sgaga wofi;i't('kc€ wcje, " Wafi;ix.)'n.inA waruto'rjA, 
lahl' waigisol'r*." AVagigwahi'regi hadjira'n.^ga. "Dja'gwa 
iiTyk'djonfOwijf?" Tcap'o'sgaga wc'je, " Wohai'djakcrewfrt." 
VVoli^'iiA hidjil' wakc'reregi. Tu'djiregi k'igol'rowe liarai'ran.vga 
i'iga'ra, roko'naxdjidji^jt. E'gi k'igcVra rucdjai'nogi, egi wcje, 
'Yak'I'p'ara tok'djc'ra. S'ahu'djaip'aVtgi wasgc'ra lu'rc'rjgi- 
^irc^n^ higuii't';^l)adjitc^k'djer€. Egi winiiw;i'hi7jk'djc^n.v hitco'- 
[c'ihahi\vira wona'Tirt ruko'nonA. Uaiykcik kortponai'j^ njjhi 
;igl'ren4. HuT/gera kereponai'j^ wagi'u'tek'djehi.v" 

The next morning Tcap'o'sgaga himself got up early and 
went to inspect his crops, and indeed they liad been utterly 
destroyed. What had been left (from previous depredations) 
bad now been utterly ruined and even tlie vines had been torn 
Lip. Tcap'o'sgaga felt grieved and said, "Have my attendants 
go and call my war bundle bearer.' They went and called liim 
and when he (and others) had arrived (they asked) "What are 
Kc to do?" Tcap'o'sgaga said, "Put on the food." Then 
they prepared the food.^ When tlie food had been cooked they 
went to invite as the feasters the most important (of the people). 
When the feasters finished then lie said, "I am going on tiie 
warpath. At the end of the path, I see my enemy. I am going 
to have the pleasure of killing the ten men that my grand- 
fathers (the spirits) who are in control of war obtained for me. 
For ten chiefs I am going." 

Higua'nA tciro'bera hikM7a'tcirobcra herek'a'ragiji. Waru7a- 
pra tciro'bera harutci-o't'iibjVn.^ga liak'arat'iibfi'n.'^ga. Egi 
waru7a'bera k'arak'j gigl'reje wadjtra hadji' tcak'a'rawijc 
wagixonara'cAn^ watco'-ikcu. HodjicA'n^ wadjera watl'rehire- 
?aMjji. "Jijiji'ji," airega'djq. Wadiakon.igire'je, watseretcj'jf^ 
huTjgera hoixdjio'minogira^ni^ga hik'arohoxdjina'n.^ga hicdjfi'ra 



'The youths who carry (he war bundle on (he warpath. They are 
generally (he nephews of the war leadern. 

* That is, begin the war bundle or winter feast which ie always given before 
a war party starts. 

[195] 



Wisconsin Historical Society 

tcs waihira'n.^ga, ju'ra mip'j'nanAga. Tegi ahu'-ireje djihu' 
wagigi'ran-vga k'idja'nigidjj'biVfgi, aigi wagu'djireje wadjera 
bos"u'-jncJ€. Higiia'nA maitadje'hira roko'noxdji hak'i'rije giji 
tcin^'genggere hanti'tciTjxdjiwacgahl'ra nuwa'Tjgireje. 

Near the door he indicated what would be the first stopping 
place. Then he placed the war bundle across the entrance and 
jumped over it.^ Then he put the war bundle on his back and 
walked towards his boat, his attendants accompanying him. 
They had hardly pushed off when they were greeted by a "Here! 
here! here!" Then they saw a very long boat, filled with chiefs, 
all of whom were dressed in their best finery; their faces painted 
blue and medals around their necks. ^° They (the Winnebago) 
permitted the boat to pass and then when it was exactly along- 
side of them, they shot the occupants and tipped the boat over. 
Soon after a strong wind arose and all the people in the village 
started out to give chase (to the enemy)." 

Waee'reke tcin^ge'dja wal'reje, "K'are'sgexdjj, hu7?gera wahu- 
djiX' wahiran.^'guni. Wona'7ire h^pcA'n^. Tcap'o'sgaga wogltek 
hireje a'n^gra. Wogl'teki hisge'xdji waji'ne 'ii-jjere'n.i. HuTjgera 
m^hu'dja wahl'ran^gunrcge." Egi waee'reke wo'woTjgra wal'reje, 
"Wajq'njk hinuho'-ira niTjgi-a'hi wirudjnaTjkcgu'nije." 

"Tegi rodjj-iigu'irek'dje^je waee'reke fiaT/genu'njgra." Stok- 
'ina'n.^ga ha-ewahi'narykce hur/gra k'ik'u'rusgitc haral'rega, 
hsLT]ke ni-£|'p hiranihaniTjgu'ni ai'ran.^ga. 

•^ Egi Hotcujjk tcinjge'dja Tcap'o'sgaga 'u'r/ginige tcin^'goxonu^- 
nA tcawe'k'djeje. Wace'rek'era ni{bi'hi min?'giregi, hijq, tcin?'- 
goxonu'uA higai'regi, te'n.^k'a niTjgiowiwi'sk'i, edja tcin^'goxo- 
nu'uA hereje'. E'je'e tcaware'k'aroho^n.^ a'n.^kce. 

The Foxes in their village said, "Say, I believe the chiefs have 
been killed. This is a time of war. Tcap'o'sgaga has been 
angered. When Tcap'o'sgaga gets very angry he generally 
does what he threatens. Verily the chiefs must have been 
killed." Then the bad Foxes said, "Perhaps they are eating 
the objects we donated. "^^ 



• It wxs alwaj'8 customarj' for the leader to do thia. 

'"' The boat contained the Fox chiefs who had come to make reparatioa 
for the damage inflictefl upon Tcap'o 'sgaga's cropa. 
" That Ls, started on a tribal waqiath. 
" That Lb, the chiefs who went to make peace. 

[196] 



Fox and Winnebago War 

"The Foxes will not be coining buck for some time," (tiio 
Winnebago said). (The Foxes) at the same time had gathered 
together and discussed the fate of the chiefs who had gone to 
give themselves up (to the Winne])ago) and had never returned. 
"\'ery likely they are not alive any more," they said. 

Tcap'o'sgaga returned to the Winnel)ago village after he 
killed (the chiefs) and then started for the smaller of the two 
villages in which the Foxes lived. It was at the smaller village 
that the lake was narrowest. Towards this one he was going 
he said. 

Jige pihi' totcQ'maratce. Tcin;?'g6nQk'a dja'n^ga wat'e'- 
k'ipTnA hanii'tcii7xdji hik'ik'^'roxoi'reje. Tcin^goxonu'nA tca- 
wai'reje. Hoxdjana'njgi haral'negi tcin?'goxonu^n?k'aedja hajse'- 
retc hak'ikon^'giregi. HilpdjiTjgJi'djq hani^'ntc hak'ikDn;?'gireje, 
tcin^'gen^k'a haikcq,'hireje. Hijpsga'xdjiTjgi djobl'hi wai'neje. 
Egi tcin^'goxonu^iiA hanimirjgire'je giji moi'sintcj haTjk'I'jii 
rugii'jerehiram^je. Egi tcira' wirowa'iidj hireje' hak'araral'reje. 

Hag-rregi woja'wa roko'ngxdjije. AVak'dje'wacira^nj^ga, lu^he'- 
ga hok'ixe're wacines'a'je k'ik'iricgira^n^ga. Djasge woja'wan^vgi, 
je'sge yaru'zireje, HotcUTjk tcin^'gera. 

He had again planned a war party all these within the village 
who were likely to show any skill in killing men, prepared them- 
selves for (attacking) the smaller village. They started at da\m, 
and the}' reached the smaller village at night and ferried them- 
selves across. By dawn all had crossed and the village was 
surrounded. As soon as it was broad daylight they gave the 
war whoop in four different places. Then they rushed on to the 
small village and destroj^ed it completely. Then they burnt 
up the houses and went home. 

When they got home everyone was happy. They danced the 
Victory dance and at night began the Hok'ixe're dance. So 
happy were the Winnebago. 

E'gi tcing'goxonu t'ehi hirera', hijfi ha7?ke' t'ehira'njgi hak- 
'ikonp'gen^k'a. Niji'n}k min^'k'iji hihfi'ginigeVlja tcok'djj'- 
tcegijqMv'iji, ihji'benjiwtViiaTykce, je'c hurjke' t'ehirfi'njgi. Wa- 
cereke' tcin^k hoxe'tera, Hotcu'Tjk tcinp'gera te agri'k'in4k 
nv^k'i'ji. Edja hinu'genjk' tcok'djj tcek harykf' t'ehira'UiVga, 
e'dja kereje' wacerekt' tcin.v'kedja worak gij<', "Maj'sintc 
wi'nawinj^ Hotcu'Tjk wa'u'-inegu'ni yare'n^. Hota wia'geni- 

[197] 



Wisconsin Historical Society 

sge'nA- Giccija'rawire Hotcu'Tjk wa'u'-inegi tcira wiro-a'^intc 
hireco'nun4 Hotcu'Tjgera totcaj'nega." 

Although they thought they had killed ail in the smaller village, 
one young girl wiio was lying on top of a small clifif, near where 
they had crossed, fasting, had not been killed. Now the Foxes 
were living also in a large village right across the lake from the 
Winnebago. To this place the young woman who had not been 
killed went, and when she got to the big Fox village, she told 
them the news, namely, "The Winnebago have completely 
destroyed us, I believe. Some of them (the enemy) I partially 
recognized. Go and see however whether they were Winne- 
bago, for (if it was they) the lodges will be found burnt to the 
ground, that being their custom when they go on a warpath." 

Wacereke ua7?genu'nigera wai'reje hak'iri'regadj^ waicdja'ra 
walreje, "Hotcu'Tjk wa'u'-inen^ tcira wiro-a'7intcire^n4. Hisge'- 
xdji huTjk k'ik'u'rusgitc harai'ranihera t'al'rera." Wik'a'raperez 
djin-v'giren.^ Wacereke'ra. "Egi Hotcu'rygen^k'a woroha'rjxdj i 
wa'ua77ga'n4ga harjke' k'iza' p'jne." Ge e'sge Wace'rekera 
wan.^ke'weje. Wacereke'djega woc'ige nu'njge Hotcu'Tjk'djega 
h477k'l'J4 t'ehi ruxu'rugenlje. 

Wace'reke tcing'gera han^'tci7?xdji wa'iT^ke'reje. 

Hotcu'Tjgen^k'a hotcintci'n p'jni kereponai'jj:^ ker€'7itok'i 
aires'a'gi, je'sge hianihal'reje keni k'ici'cigerani wa'ui^nal'reje. 
Hijq,' watco'ju-ak'i agii'-iregi wai'reje, "Tcin^ge xe'tera hogi- 
wek'dja'win^, e'djagi hinij'g hinik'i'cerek'djaVin^," ai'regi 
ga'dji^. Tcin^k hoxo'nun4 hogiwai'regicA^n4 ni-q,'birek'dje^n4, 
eje watco'ju-ak'a. "Tcinggoxe'tora hogi-a'wigi hanq'ndjjt'e^- 
k'djonawijt hitco'kehahi\vira hi77gaire'n4. Je'gii tcin4'goxonu^n4 
hogiwek'dja'win4. Totcu'Tjgen^k'a wagai'reje te'e'ji tcinogoxe'- 
tera wagiwek'dja'win4," higal'regi. Totcgwu'T^gOT/k'a haTjke 
'u'nije, hicge' jegu tcin4k hoxe'tera hogi'weje. T'airek'djone'ra 
hipe'rezdi, nunige Wace'reke tcinogoxe'tera tcinogip'ai'dja. 
"Hagi'regi, egi nuk'i'kewek'djaVin4." Edja rok'ikewe'reje. 

Then the older Foxes went and w^hen they returned spies 
announced, "Yes, they were Winnebago, for the lodges have 
been burnt down. It is true that the chiefs who had gone to 
make peace have been killed." Then the Foxes went into 
mourning for them. "There are many of the Winnebago and 
we will not be able to fight them," (said the Foxes). Indeed 

[198] 



Fox and Winnebago War 

the Foxes were afraid. Although a Fox dishked a Winnebago, 
not one could he kill. 

All the Foxes now went into mourning. 

Ten ^^'innel)ago youths proud of their tatoos had been out 
(in the woods) before these troubles began. As they were 
returning they said to the one who was their leader, "Let us go 
around the large village and court women." "Only if you go 
past the small village will you escape unharmed," said the 
leader. "We will go by way of the large village even if all of 
us are killed by the spirits," they said. "Well, let us go by 
way of the small village," they said to the war leader. "If you 
are afraid, as you say, you may go alone by way of the smaller 
village, we, however, will go by the way of the large village. 
The leader, however, refused and also went by way of the large 
village. That they would die, he knew very well, but never- 
theless he accompanied them to the edge of the big village. 
W^hen they got there (they said), "Let us paint ourselves." 

Rok'ik'awa'n?k'i| tedjai'T/xdji 'iaTjgenu'njginT^jti wa'iTjke'rexdji- 
a^n^ga haTephu'ije wawage'je, "Hik'iwa'rera jedjuTjga rak'I'- 
riwije? wige'jtjegu. Egi 'uan?gwrre, wona'7ire uaT/kcikra 
wogl'gara k'arak'una'T^kcAn^. Nigwadjl'rek'djawi waiyagek- 
'dje'n^. 

Hidjo'wagikeVegadjti hVy^ dji'je hotcintcj'n.v nigo'-irawrn-V- 
Gua'n4 howina'ne. " Totcu'77gen;?k'a weje," " Wagixonu'winA, 
hacdja'win4 hanji'ndj wa'ike'ren^gra horu-a'gera wajjnigek- 
'djona'win4. HiTjgigok'djona'wire, m^hi'nA wo'niginqdje'ra'wigi 
har/ke' oijwini-q'djt. INIqlvi'nA agi'xdji wak'a'rani min^gi-a'dji," 
wige'je. "Hodjia," ai'reje. 

Then they painted themselves and as they were painting 
themselves an old man in deep mourning appeared and said, 
"Are you returning from your travels? Stay with us, for our 
men are giving a feast. I will tell them to come after you." 

Then he went away and soon a young man came (and said), 
"You are invited. Come right away." "Men, you have seen 
that all are in mourning. Once more, let me tell you something. 
The feast in which we are now to take part, do not lend your 
knife to anyone. Hold your knife ready," he told them. "All 
right," said they. 

TcIrA hahi-ok'awal'regi tciroi'xdjixdjijt edja wagiruk'oira'n^ga 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

edja minok' hiregl'. Egi wagigo'n^gere t'ap djira'n4ga weje 
watcojfi'nAk'a v.-asge'j^ howahiregl'djegi e'dja haratce'. Egi 
jige' edja jigijti_'natc€, wasge nobe'dja ep'a hiro-ik'i'rap hamin^'k 
wagigi'reje. An^ga e'gi Wacereke'ra cago'-icA^n^ wak'i'ju 
'u-ineje' Hotcu'??gen?k'a ewira'ruh?k^ jeje'nuga^CAn^ wasge'n^k 
wawa'u'-ineje. 

Wagigo'nak'a egi we'je, ''iic^jiTjk'djona're hajuju'k djir€ha'n4ga, 
nilw^ djireha'gi giji. Djirehagi'ji winuwf|'hik'dje'n4," eje. 
Egi t'4pdjira'n4ga juk'djirehi-a'n4ga n^w^'djirehfgi Hotca'- 
T^genpk wanimi'T^gireje. Totcu'wuTjgeriQk'a s'rxdji haruko'zera 
ruc'a'gireje hidjane'ngk'a^ji mrihi'nA hon^'tc wawagi'girege, 
higia'nA je'e'ji waruko'zirehlVen4. Totcij'wuTjgen^k'a roh^ 
t'ehi-a'n4ga e'gi mahrnA k'awak'u'mike e'sge haruko'zirejc. 
E'gi warusgi'djineje egi ua?7gwoi'cgadjera. Kereponaj 'jq, bozai'- 
reJ€, TotcT4'wu7/gen?ka weje, "Teje'sge honiiygi'tagwira k'ibaf- 
iiagiwi-a^n4ga. E'gi hint'ek'djoiia'win4." 

E'gi hotcintci'riA wagwadjira'n4ga uarigwoicga'djedja wakere'- 
reJ€. E'dja pedjicga'tc wagigi'reje taxu'xu. Djasgea'wexdjjna^- 
n?gi, je'sge wagigi'reje. E'gi totciiwu7?k'dje'ga weje, "Hotcin- 
tci'nA hinqk hiTjk'i'cere hiwa'uqdjc'nA," wige'je. 

E'gi edja taxQ' t'ewahi'reje; tatce'p wahi'reje te'e'ji jegia'n4ga. 

Then they entered the lodge and when all were in they (the 
Foxes) made room for them and they sat down. Then the 
host rose and spoke and pointed to a place that was nearest 
him, for the leader. Then toward another place he pointed for 
the second and thus each one (Winnebago) received a seat. 
With each AVinnebago were placed s?:ven Foxes, making eight 
in all. 

Then the host spoke, "As I rise, I will blow upon my flute 
and have a song started. 1 am anxious to have them start a 
song," he said. Then he rose and blew his flute and as soon as 
the song was started, the Winnebago were seized. It was a 
long time before they could seize the war leader, but the others 
had lent their knives and were consequently seized easily. The 
war leader killed many but finally his knife broke and he was 
seized. Then they bound him and prepared the torture. Ten 
posts they stuck in the ground. Then the war leader said, 
"I told you of this, but you doubted me. Here we are going 
to die." 

Then the youths came after them and began torturing them. 

[200] 



Fox and Winnebago War 

[They applied firebrands to them. They l)nrnt them in those 
places where they would suffer most. Tiien the war leader said, 
"Well, my boys, we are now courting women." 

Thus they burnt them to death and destroyed them utterly. 

Wacercke'npk'a tein^'gidju hok'irfi'djera hanqtei'T/xdji taniwa'- 
wogiju'-ireje tanihu'-iji] rok'awaira'ny^ga. Hoteu'rjgera jedj.)'- 
Tjk'dje al'recgrrnije. HamVntc gip'I'neje, hoc'i'gin.'^ke mfjna- 
djira'n.'^ga. Hana'nts hastol'reje, nunige' gwer(''egera haTjkt' 
wanaj'nanije Ilotcu'rygera wawanii'xdjijt. Wigiruxu'rutc Ui\- 
iya'n^ga hiboja'p' wanafncje. Hotcu'Tjgera nyowaha'zireje 
giji. Widje'dja hak'ikon.Vgireje hinij'gera, ua7?kci'gera, niTjk- 
'djo'7?gen}gra. Widje'dja wowaha'zian.^ga. TeirA e'wotcirajjna'- 
n.^ga mar77era' ewaru'tc nfyina'n^ga. Widje'dja haici'ri tokse'- 
retci wirap'e'reje je'djij, hire'k'djege. 

Hagare'jgna je'-ija 'uii'njvkce hijdjai'jq haxdja'hi-oni^ji-a'n.^ga, 
"Wa'ngkce teje'sge niijgiging'gwira naTjxgij'wige. Huwl' nunige 
wasagere'rocAn4 hadjiwl'n.^. Hage'dja waTere'ra hjcge'rujap 
hahuhai'ren4 ua^jkcigirti'sgitc ruja'p, hahuhai'ren^. Hota'- 
raninik haranica'wiT^gi rusgl'tc hanini-aTykerek'dja'wigi." 

The Foxes now^ offered tobacco^^ to many different tribes, 
giving them beautifully decorated pipes. They desired to 
annihilate the Winnebago. All the (different peoples) liked this 
because they hated the Winnebago. They made their plans 
carefully but even then they could not defeat (the Winnebago) 
in battle. They (the Winnebago) always kept on moving back 
as the others tried to overcome them. The Winnebago were 
driven into the water. They crossed to an island, taking with 
them the women and children. Here they lived in lodges and 
ate the crops as they stayed there. All summer they were 
besieged on this island, as (the enemy) hoped to destroy them. 

One night a man wearing a bear skin robe inside out, said, 
"This they are going to do to you, we heard. So far only the 
fleetest have come. Soon the slower ones will come, peeling 
basswood bark as they go along with which to bind the people. 
If some are still alive we can then take them home bound." 

Tcap'o'sgaga wogite'kce t'ek'dje'n^, wa'n^k'a a'n.^ga. Gu- 



" That is, established friendship with them in order to have them unite 
against the Winnebago. 

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Wisconsin Historical Society 

djirehrje boci'pdjirehrje. Xiiwuge'dja mln9ga'n4ga wa'naT/kce 
a'luga. 

E'gi hagare'j^na wal'reje, "K'a7ira dja'n4ga hidja watoho'tci- 
ak'i, woik'ij'wine. K'aTi'niporiA ru-ag4wi'n4. Wawoi'nok'iHgi 
niTjgitu'cdjaTjk'dja^win.-v." K'a7ira' nijp'i'wi uaTykcikwil'coce 
xetera' HotcuT/gt'dja watoho'tcinAkTji eje'e wata'wana7/kcA^n4. 
K'a7rn4k'a hok'ikit'al'regi, hlj^ tconi hjt'e't'egi weje, "Tcin^gi- 
djai'dja watoho'tcira wotct'xije, djii'djiga hiT/ge'n4. Wajq'nijq, 
tctxiawarregi cdja'n4ga niq,birek'dje'gi 'uq,'djen4 hiT7ge'n4. 
Te'e'ji jegu'n4, woigal'rok'djen4." " Hitcak'aro', nicge' jesge 
are'n4. Hicge' djadjiga' jesgi77ge'n4 neni7jgitce'xik'djera^CAn4 
here' yara'n4k waire'nA." 

Tcap'o'sgaga felt sad (and said), "He will die, the one who 
said that." Then he shot at him and tumbled him down. The 
one who had said this, was sitting on top of a tree. 

One day (the Foxes) said, "Turn over to us those Menominee 
who have married into your tribe. We are longing for some 
Menominee soup. If you give these (men) to us, we will let 
up on you." The two Menominee among the Winnebago were 
great warriors and it was for them that (the Foxes) were askmg. 
These Menominee talked to one another and the one who spoke 
first said, "It is a hard thing to be a son-in-law in a tribe not 
your own, my father used to say to me. Whenever the members 
of the tribe are in difficulties, and they wish to save themselves 
they turn (their attention to the strangers among them)." 
" Thus it is," (said the other) " but they may sacrifice me." " My 
friend, I feel the same way about it, just as my father told me. 
I spoke to you because I thought that you might dread it." 

Wawozal'reje hsL-qke wagirucdjajna'nije. 

E'gi hagare'jq, K'aTl'ra wagigu'tc djije wai'reje, "Keni tconi 
oniki't'ek'djawi'n4," higai'rcje. K'a7'-a'k'a hidja' wan^'gixgu^- 
Tjgi wogai'reje, "Hotcu'ijk'djane haTjkc' n^djodj^pi 'ji^ herenrn4. 
K'a7i'ra nijp'i'wi Hotcur/ge'dja watchotci-adjq,Vigi woik'u'- 
ina\vrn4. Esgt hagare'jj^ K'a7l'niponA tatcgo'n4. Je ioniT/gl'take 
wahe'n4. Djasge' nak'aracik'dje'cge, c'u'ijk'djegi waniT/gita'- 
hcAn4." 

K'a7rra Hotcur/gera' k'araci'k djigu'djirera hisgidja' watoho'- 
tcin.^k'i wawogai'regi, jegu'r;ke k'aracigira'ni, k'arai'ren4. 

Then they (the Winnebago) gave the Menominee away, but 
the Foxes did not let up on them. 

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Fox and Winnebago War 



After a while the Menominee eaiue to the aid of the Winnebago 
but the Foxes said, ''Wait a littk', let us speak to you first." 
The Menominee listened and the Foxes told them, "The Winne- 
bago are not to be i)itied. There were two Menominee who 
had married among them and they handed them over to us. 
In this way we again drank Menominee .soup. For this rea.son 
am I speaking to you. You may lielj) them now, if you wish to, 
now tliat 1 have told you." 

The Menominee had eome to help th»* Winnebago but now 
that the two Menominee had l)een handed (ncr t<j the Foxes 
thej' turned back home. 

E'gi Tcap'o'sgaga tanin'gijure'n.^. "Ho," wige'n.^, "Ya'u- 
tcak'dje'n4." E'gi hahal'regi hihinobii'n.vga ninohj'pce. Agere'gi 
hok'ik'dje' watca'birera widj./ k'i-an.^ga. Xina'djirtgi wldjti"- 
jnekTjq 7a7a'kce. Agedja'n.jk'a 'uiiiiolii'reje. Tcap'o'sgaga 
hidja'ni|kce al'reje. "Hii-o," wigai'reje. E'gi halii' a'n'nije 
hoYe'beniTjgeVlja min.igfi'n.^ga hira'n.^kce. Hisgl'djowarrfgi 
wagai'reje, "Xi-osini'nak'ie.\^n/^je," higal'reje. "Haha"^," 

wige'je. 

Egi hik'ik'a'roho-a^n.^ga waxopi'nixdjinigeVlja wora'gereje 
hidja'higi hora'kee, " Hi-a'^lJ«iiiyA, tein.vgij^ hok'ira'djtra djanij- 
ga'ra hana'tci7?xdji histora'n.^ga jedji^' 'u-ik'arohoT'ien.^," hige'je. 
"NiTjk'djainiga'xdji, hai'xigi hahik'dje'n.v jcgijk'a'rare." 

Tcap'o'sgaga had been olifered tobaceo. "Weil," he said, 
"I will try it." At night he started out and jumped into the 
water. Across there were the enemies, so he turned himself 
into a goose. In the middle of the lake, a lone goose suddenly 
squawked. Those across sliouted, "Tcap'o'sgaga is over there." 
"Yes," was the answer. Then he went around to the shallow 
water and crossed over, and as he sat there l)athing some one 
went by. They said to him, "Are you cooling yourself off with 
water?" "Yes," he answered. 

Then he got himself ready and went to the French and when 
he arrived among them he said, "Father, different tribes banded 
together are trying to destroy us." "My child, go home for I 
will come tomorrow." 

Gu'je Tcap'o'sgaga hahe'regi k'irigl' tcin./gidjanQ'k'a e'dja 
higu'indja '14'iia'n.vga. Ai'gi widjera' howake'ieje. Gigi' Ho- 
tcuTjgera' wawok'a'rak'ira'kce. "HaT'nigi hii^'djehiwiVa dji- 

[ 20;i ] 



Wisconsin Historical Society 

k'dje'nj^." HaiuVte hiittchire'ra k'arak'dja'p djin^'k hire'n^. 
E'gi waxopi'nixdji'nigra p'etcwa'tc ni-edjere'j^ hadjia'7epce 
ga'dj^. Tcin^gidja'ngk'a e'dja wadjur?k'a' gigo'-ireje giji. 
Etcawe'je Hotcu'rjgeii^k'a wiidjera hadja'n^ke. Tcin?gidja'n4k'a 
edjatcq,' tcawe'giji wadjera naTjTira'reje Hotcu'r^gera. E'djatcq, 
wak'araci'-ik'djege wa'ur^gu'ni hirai'rege. 

When Tcap'o'sgaga returned, he went around the other 
tribes. He went across the island. When he was home he said 
to the Winnebago, "Our father is going to come." All therefore 
expected that their father would come. Soon after the French 
ship came in sight. The other tribes went toward the boat as 
it came in sight. The Winnebago saw them go toward it. The 
Winnebago were frightened as they saw the other people go 
toward the boat, thinking that the French might take part 
against them. 

Tcin?gidja'n4k'a waxopi'nixdjinigen?^k'a hokit'ai'regi, "Hi- 
^'ndjeniuA Hotcu'ijgenjgre wowg'-gera hirap'e'rezti7?ga'dja. Hij^' 
hinimiT^gwiga' hagal'ra, cuTjkxu'nuxdjinjgra^ curjkxete'xdjinA 
cuTjkxunu'njk'djega hanimiT/gira'n^ga rasa'k'dji neconu^n^, je'sge 
Hotcu'Tjk'djane hiTjgigi-a'djen^. Hagai'xdjjnA raxodj era,'cAn4 
djek'dje'gedjini jegii 'i{gigl'wir€." Nonei7giha'n4 waxopi'nixdji- 
genok'a egi we'n4, "Hisge' wacawl'n4 ni77gi'djitek'dja\vin4. 
Djasg€rawi-a'n4ga raxo'djcAn4 djera'win6n4, jesge hiniTjgigik- 
'dja'win4. Te'e'ji c'liq-'cAnqgwiVe jegijna'carawfgiji. Hotcu'Tjk- 
'djane haTjke waru'djeniga e'tc^ wap'ako'ngk hara'djen4, hira- 
per€zwi'n4. Djasge'jonera nii7gituzi-a'n4ga hanjga'nyqk'arawi- 
a'n4ga cinigi'gik'dja\vin4. Aigi djagu'hare nicge hiTjgi'ii'wine. 
Higua'na hatci'ndjacAn4 horawa'radji^wigi, higiia'nA edja hak'- 
djowak'a'rawino^ne Harjke' c'l^wl'm-gi djadjai'rjxdji p'a horawa- 
cil'rawigrji hirjk'aga' wl'u'n4 hIsge' winigitu'winik'djonaVin4. 
Hotcu'r?g€n?gre havjke' ragicii'rucdj^winigi wi'ii wak'ua'n4ga 
hotcintci'nwaninA har^'tc wagigik'dje'n4," wige'je. "Ho," 
aira'n4ga. 

Then the other tribes spoke to the French. "Father, you 
know very well that the Winnebago are bad people. Just as a 
big dog jumps on to a small dog and would like to kill it, so the 
Winnebago used to do to us. Let us therefore reduce them to 
ashes." The Frenchman agreed with them and said, "You 
have spoken the truth and I will help you. I will let you go 

[204] 



Fox and Winnebago War 

on (if you wish) but the result would be simply that you will 
reduce everything to ashes. This is what will hai)pen if you 
continue. You know that the Winnebago get very resourceful 
when they starve. That is his nature and therefore I will 
take him home with me and fatten him up for you. But you 
must do what 1 now tell you. From whatever diiTerent places 
you have come, go back to th(>m. If you don't do it, as long as 
you live, never will I sell any anununilion to you. If you do 
not let up on the Winnebago, I will give them ammunition and 
lend them my men. "All right," saiil they. 

Higua'uA mok'l'-eje egi hinijgra' nik'djo'r^gen'igra watcdjrjad' 
waruti' kereje'. Uankci'gera wasagere'ra njowal'reje. WaniTjgl'gi 
tciwusu'ntcinik tciwagigi-ii'n.^ga, wa'rutcwogil'n^ga. M^cdjaj'- 
negi, e'gi gi-a's wagigl'je, hijuk pi'jyxdji woga'n.^ga waru'djera 
dja'n4ga waitcu'iran.vgijemjga'cAn.v woga'je. Xitacdja'g€ra, 
tanl'jura, waisga'bera, wiirudjera'mitc woga'n.vga, wawage'j*. 
" Nik'dj./genjgjlxdjiwrn.v, ragiwaistena'wire. .liga'ganixdji woca' 
ho-iro'ni hic'ijwi-e'ge. Ho'rijtv kl'cip rawigi'ji, hagt'dja t'e'giji 
honinl'nawjgi hoij^' t'an^k'I'ji homxu'dj hirega'dja. ' W'apo'Ycre 
k'Icip t'e wa'unai'77k'djane^n.v rak'iri-o'gigiwarrcMi.^,' alrek'dje'n.v 
P'edjorat'ij'wjgi, p'cdjera hoiciipdjj hawonii'wi-ijdje. Jiga'geni- 
xdji n^'u'stera hijq, ni-o'rat'nearawi-e^gi." 

Then they scattered and the women and children were taken 
into the boat. The men who could walk fast, walked. As 
soon as he had brought them back near the fort, he gave them 
food with which to sustain themselves. When they were strong 
enough, he bade them flee and gave them good guns and as 
much food as they could carry in their boats. Coffee, sugar, 
bread and all kinds of food he provided for them and he said, 
"Children as you're about to flee (remember this). Never 
hunt fish with a spear. You might thus let a fish escape and if 
it dies later on and (the enemy) hook a dead fish and inspect it. 
they will say, 'This fish was speared and got away and died and 
therefore they (the Winnebago) have passed here. Likewise, 
if you build a fire, always cover up the embers, for if you should 
throw any into the water (you would be detected).'" 

Aigi niTjgio'wak'aralVen.^ wadjo'we. Te'n;)k'a yowak'aral'reu.^ 
howi'wis njjjl'regi niwo'gizik, hiragl'regi iklja h'ixdje'gi hoira'tc- 
gera, howak'aral'renj^. E'gi tt'e'ji jegia'n.^ga. 

[205] 



Wisconsin Histoncal Society 

Tcin^'gidjji hira'nihera waxopi'nixdjjgin^k'a, e'dja k'atrai'cdja 
hadji'reje, woma'T/giratcgi hcrcge' wagarreje, "Djasge'raranit- 
ce^je," higai'roglji. Wawage'je, "NiTjk'djo'TjgenigjVxdjiwInA, Ho 
tcu'rjk'djqne djasge'jqnera hirape'rezhigaMjj^. Wlrak'a'raxdjj- 
ijagi nunige' hatci'ndja horunai'negicgf, }iai7ke' yape'rezenfn^. 
Hitho'regi hainiga'djq. haTjk'a'wajtnrne. Rek'u'ji hiregu'ni 
yare'n.^, hiromg'hqnegi honiwagigrrA liaijkt' edja wajani'nA." 

Then they went away in l)oats and returned to the lake. 
When they came to the narrow place, where the main body of 
water lies, there they went ahead along the left branch. Now 
this is all of this. 

After awhile the tribes came to see the Frenchman, for it w^as 
about the time fixed and they said, "How have you been getting 
along?" Then he said, "Children, you know what kind of 
people the Winnebago are. We watched them very closely 
but they got away, in what direction I do not even know. In 
the morning thej^ were gone. I believe they went down stream, 
although I haven't even hunted for them up stream." 

Nu'nige tcin^'gidjq. k'okHra'dj?k'a honi'neje hisge'xdjj jedju'- 
ijk'djc hirowal'reje. RoTi'xdji nihe'ra ho'-ijq, e'djak'i horuxu'- 
djiregiiMjii woca'-iyakono^gire wa'ia'rjk'i. " Yak'irio'giwarren^." 
Jige' ni-ok'ixii'djega e'dja hahi'regadjq hatc^'k'a howaral'regi 
haTjk'ipe'rezira'ni, ntinige' edja nj^'ijstc'jji ni-e'dja (k'u?) hadjaf- 
regi. "E-ak'iriogiwaI'ren4." Nl'djega isa'wara, e'djahi haTjke' 
wadjo'wtpi^nigi. E'dja Wacereke' k'isagcra djan^vga'k'i edja 
wat'iinal'rcje. Tclp'a'rokera wadjal'regi. "Egi ak'irin^'kcAn^," 
al'rege. Pihi' wawesj'wjnegaMj^ Wace'reke wa'u'n^kce wawi- 
wa'7j7ireJ€. Hagas'i'redjaTjxdjj yak'i'ri-ogiwafren^. 

NaTjgu'ra tcj^t'iii'k'iji waruxaT'rej e. Hagare'j^ tcani' sinihi'xdjj 
haru'ziregi, e'dja hig'JTjgl'reje han^'tc wakcal'nejc. 

Well, all these different tribes looked for the Winnebago, for 
they wished to trail them and kill them. Now, although the 
Frenchman had expressly forbidden them, sure enough (the 
Foxes) found a fish that had been speared. "They've come past 
here," they said. However when they came to the fork of the 
stream they didn't know which way (the Winnebago) had gone, 
but they noticed embers in the water. "They've gone by 
here." As it was impossible to go to the end of the stream in 
boats, all the half-breed Foxes got out (and walked). Soon they 

[206] 



J) 1.4 ^.^0 



Fox and Winnebago War 

eaw the oval lodges. "There they iire," tlicy siiid. Tor that 
reason the Fox(>s carefully looked tliein over and wjitclied tlieni. 
They inquired about them and found (»ut that they luid i)H>.se<| l.y. 
The road (trail) was visible, so they < Iwi.sed them. Soon a 
cold autumn spell overtook them and they (the enemy) gave 
up and returned home. 



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